Kitchen

[JustJules]

I wondered what to title this thread, thought about "Everyone should clean their can", but in all seriousness.... I am curious if anyone that cooks takes the time to wash off the lid of any canned or jarred products before they open it? I am talking about a can of soup, or a can of tomatoes, or a can of cooking broth. The reason I ask, is because for the longest time I never bothered, of course I would wipe it off if there was dust on the top, but didn't actually wash it with soap and water.

I changed that habit several years ago after seeing a news report (and I cannot recall who reported it) that its wise to properly wash off canned or jarred food products before opening to prevent contamination. Had never considered it before, but before I buy that can of soup and bring it home and put it in my pantry, it has been in at least one warehouse, probably several semi-trucks, (granted most are usually boxed in cartons or crates, but insects and rodents get in there), then has possibly been sitting on a shelf collecting dust, or a landing pad for flies. YUCK! To think there is rodent urine or feces remains on my can of soup, or fly or cockroach bacteria, then I open that lid and possibly some gets in my food just truly repulsed me. I am not particulary OCD about germs, I just like things clean, and especially when I am cooking, so to think that I went to all that effort just to mess it up by opening a can was distubing to me.

I know I survived many years without washing my cans, but now that I know about the "possibility" I just cannot bring myself to not do it. I have had friends over when I am cooking and they ask me what I am doing when I take the can to the sink and use some anti-bacterial soap and water on it first. When I explain, then they understand.

Just wondered if anyone else does this? I surely cannot be the only one. Maybe I was late boarding the train. TIA Happy & Clean Cooking (well, fun cooking should get a little messy, but hopefully you know what I mean).